Feb. 25, 2012
NORMAN, Okla. — University of Iowa men’s gymnast Anton Gryshayev broke his own school record on rings as No. 12 Iowa fell to top-ranked Oklahoma, 356.250-334.400, Saturday evening in the McCasland Field House. Iowa’s team score was one-tenth away from tying its season high, and the Hawkeyes set two new event season high scores.
“We got into a much better rhythm and found some consistency,” Head coach JD Reive said. “Our first four routines were really good, and then we fell apart on parallel bars and high bar. We have to keep working hard and making progress, and we have some meets coming up soon to achieve that.”
Gryshayev, a junior from Littleton, Colo., owns the top-six scores on rings in school history. Gryshayev scored a 15.250 on the event to place third and provide Iowa with its highest individual finish of the night. His previous top mark was a 15.200, which was set last season.
“He (Gryshayev) had a great routine,” Reive said. “He finally went out and did everything really well and executed, and that’s the score he deserves for that.”
The Hawkeyes nearly tied their mark for best team score of the season – 334.500 set against Minnesota and Nebraska – despite competing without one of their top gymnasts, junior Javier Balboa. Balboa was sidelined with minor injuries.
Iowa scored a 54.800 on pommel horse to set a season high. The Hawkeyes were led by junior Broderick Shemansky (14.150) and Gryshayev (13.950). Iowa’s previous top team score on the event this season was a 54.600 at Illinois-Chicago.
The Hawkeyes crushed their previous season best on still rings thanks to Gryshayev’s record breaking routine. Iowa scored a 58.800 on the event. Sophomore Angelo Bronzino and Matt McGrath also paced Iowa on rings as each scored a 14.900. The score was a career best for Bronzino by nine-tenths. Iowa’s previous best team score on rings was a 56.200 at the Windy City Invitational.
Freshman Devin Clarke, sophomore Samuel Wright and McGrath each paced Iowa on floor exercise. The trio each scored a 14.200 on the event. The score was a career best for Wright, and a season best for McGrath, who owns the school record on the event.
Clarke also paced Iowa on vault with a 14.300. Freshman Brandon Field (14.200) and Gryshayev (14.100) also led Iowa on the event.
Sophomore Jack McClay led the Hawkeyes on parallel bars, scoring a 14.300. The score was a season best mark for McClay. Senior Zach Cazabon also scored a 14.250. Senior Todd Becker led Iowa on high bar (13.700). Shemasnky also paced Iowa on the event with a 13.550.
Iowa will compete next in a tri-meet against Minnesota and Brockport on March 3 in Minneapolis. The meet will begin at 7 p.m. (CT). The event will be televised on tape delay by BTN on March 10th.